Chalk games for kids

Safety first

Choose a flat, dry, car-free surface and agree the edges of the play area before you begin. Never draw or play near roads, or on any driveway or car park that is in use. Ask permission before drawing on property that belongs to someone else, such as a neighbour's path, a building or a shared space. Chalk is not food: keep it out of mouths at any age, and stay beside younger children. Dry chalk makes dust, which can bother some children, including those with asthma, so use damp chalk for sensitive children and stop if anyone coughs. Wash hands and faces afterwards. Wear a hat and sun protection, take shade breaks, and check that paving is not too hot for bare hands, knees or feet. Age hints are only a guide, so you know your child best.

1. Hopscotch, your way

Age hint: 4 and up.

Bring: chalk, and a small flat marker such as a bottle top or a beanbag.

1. Draw a row of boxes, big enough for a child's foot, and write a number in each.
2. For a colour version, fill each box with a different colour and call out the colour instead of the number.
3. Toss the marker into a box, then hop and step along the grid, skipping that box.
4. Change the rules: hop on even numbers only, jump on red, or draw a spiral instead of a line.

Notice: Which rule was the trickiest to follow, and which was your favourite?

2. A chalk road for toy cars

Age hint: 3 and up.

Bring: chalk, and some small toy cars or other wheeled toys.

1. Draw a long, wiggly road with two edges wide enough for a toy car.
2. Add a bridge, a tunnel, a car park and a few houses beside it.
3. Push the cars along slowly and stay on the road. Kneel on a mat if the paving feels rough or warm.
4. Draw a new road to somewhere else.

Notice: Where does your road go, and who lives at the end of it?

3. Giant shape tracing

Age hint: 4 and up, with a friend.

Bring: chalk, and a clean spot of smooth, shady ground.

1. Only trace a child who is happy to take part, and stop if they would rather not. Check the ground is not hot or rough, then they lie down in a pose and stay as still as possible.
2. A friend or grown-up draws around the outline of their body, gently, and never over the face or hands.
3. Stand up carefully, then add clothes, patterns and a face inside the outline.
4. Swap places, or trace a shape with arms and legs spread out wide.

Notice: How does the outline compare with your body, and what pose would you try next?

4. Chalk target toss

Age hint: 3 and up.

Bring: chalk, and a few soft bean bags or rolled-up socks.

1. Draw a target of rings, with a number or colour in each ring.
2. Mark a throwing line a few steps away, and keep the area behind it clear.
3. Take turns tossing a soft bean bag underarm and see which ring it lands in.
4. Move the line back a little for a bigger challenge, or add up your numbers.

Notice: What helped you toss gently, and which ring was hardest to hit?

5. A chalk maze to walk

Age hint: 5 and up.

Bring: chalk, and plenty of flat ground.

1. Draw two long walls with a path between them, then add turns, loops and dead ends.
2. Leave a gap at the start and another at the end, and make the path wide enough for two feet.
3. Walk the maze slowly, with no running, and go back if you reach a dead end.
4. Let a friend design a new maze, then swap.

Notice: How did you decide which way to turn?

6. Chalk-and-water paint day

Age hint: 3 and up.

Bring: chalk, a small bowl of water, and a soft paintbrush or sponge.

1. Draw a big picture with thick chalk lines. Grown-ups keep the bowl away from anyone under three who might taste it.
2. Dip the brush in water and stroke it over the chalk to see the colours smear and deepen.
3. Mix two colours together with the brush on the ground.
4. When you are done, wash the picture away by pouring water over it and sweeping it off the ground.

Notice: What happened to the colours when they got wet, and how did they look when they dried?

More to do on Rangooo

Run about with more outdoor games for kids, draw outlines of shadows in sunshine and shadow activities, track the sky with weather watching activities, splash about with water play activities, practise counting with counting games, match shapes in shape and colour games, try easy rangoli designs, browse more stories and activities, or see resources for teachers.

Questions

What age are chalk games for?

Most of these ideas suit ages three to eight with a grown-up nearby. Toddlers can scribble roads and wash-off paint, while older children can draw their own hopscotch grids, mazes and target boards.

Where is it safe to draw with chalk?

Choose a flat, dry, car-free surface such as a quiet courtyard, a playground or a private yard. Keep away from roads and from any driveway or car park in use, and ask permission before drawing on a neighbour's, a building's or a shared space.

What if chalk dust bothers my child's breathing?

Dry chalk makes dust, which can irritate some children, including those with asthma. Dip the chalk in water first so it draws damp, avoid shaking or clapping chalky hands, and stop the game if anyone coughs or feels uncomfortable.

How do we clean the chalk up?

Pavement chalk usually fades with footsteps, or you can pour water over it and sweep or brush the water away. Wash hands and faces afterwards, and brush chalky clothes outdoors.